Self-tightening ball-and-socket pipe-joint.



I. C. VAN EPPS.

SELF TIGHTENING BALL AND SOCKET PIPE 101m.

APPLlCATlON FILED SEPF-Zl, 19l6.

Patented Apr. 24,1917.

|NVENTOR NITED STATES Parana OFFICE.

" THEODORE o. VAN 12ers, 0F LOS ..-.NGEI.Es, CALIFORNIA.

SELF-TIGHTENING BALL-AND-SOCKET PIPE-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 21, 1916. Serial No. 121,415.

To all whom it may concern.

and-Socket Pipe-Joints, of which improvementsthe following is a specification.

, The object of the invention described herein is to provide a simple and efiicient universal self tightening ball and socket pipe joint which may beeasily assembled and readily taken apart for the renewal of packing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a joint of the character described having a pair of separated compressible packing rings.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawings of which Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of the )ipe joint, the plane of view being indicated y the line II, Fig. '2, and Fig. 2 is an end view taken on the line IIII, Fig. 1.

The ball-and-socket joint constructed according to the present invention comprises a socket member and a ball member each adapted to be connected to a pipe. The socket member is preferably formed of two parts, a shell 1 and a collar 2 having screw- ,thread attachment to each other and provided interiorly with ,a spherical surface. Portions of the outer faces of both of these members are hexagonal, as seen in Fig. 2, so that they may be engaged by a wrench, and the flanges forming the wrench-engag ing faces are provided with registering holes to receive a cotter pin 3 for locking the member .in closed position. For attaching the socket to a pipe 11 the outer end of the shell 1 is screw-threaded interiorly.

The ball member comprises first a central cylindrical sleeve 4, provided medially with a disk 5, which extends to the inner surface of the socket member, and which has beveled or converging faces .6 and ('3 at its periphery. Surrounding the sleeve there is a pair of compressible packing rings 7 and 7*, one being placed on each side of the disk 5 and extending from the sleeve to the inner face of the socket. These rings are, as indh ated, beveled or enlarged at their peripheries to conform to the beveled edges of the disk 5, thereby affording a large surface area of contact with the socket. Surrounding the ends of the sleeve 4-, and telescoping with the outer faces thereof, are packing v compressing rings 8 and 9. Each of these rings preferably have spherically shaped outer surfaces. That the ball member may be attached to a piplO, its outer end is screw-threaded. interiorly. The ring 9 is cored as at l2to lighten its weight, and is provided with a flat face 13 so that the pressure of the fluid, within or passing through the joint may hold the several parts Patented A r. 24,1917,

of the joint under compression to pressthepacking rings outwardly.

It will be understood thatby the use of two packing rings, arranged as shown and described, a maximum surface areaof. pack-v ing contact may be obtained, and that, in case one packing ring is defective, the other may serve to prevent leakage. -Furthermore, these advantages are obtained in a joint that may be easily assembled and readily taken apart for repair, and which in operation is self-tightening.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principle and operation of my invention, together with the joint which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof. .I-Iowcver, I desire to have it understood that my' invention may be practised with other forms of construction than that specifically shown and described.

I claim as my invention:

, 1. In a self-tightening universal ball-andsocket pipe joint the combination with a two-part socket member one part of which is provided with means for attaching it to a pipe; of a ball member within said socket and comprising a central sleeve provided medially with a laterally extending disk, a pair of compressible packing rings surrounding said sleeve and disposed one on each side of said disk, and a pair of centrally bored packing-compressing rings each telescoping with one end of said sleeve and freely slidable longitudinally thereon to tighten said packing rings, one of said packing-compressing rings being provided with means for attacl'iing it to a pipe and the other being provided with a face exposed to fluid pressure.

2. In a self-tightening universal ball-andsocket pipe joint, thecombination with a two-part. socket member one part of which is provided with means for attaching it to a pipe, of a bail member within said socket BEST AVAILABLE CO" and omprising a central sleeve provided medially with'a laterally extending disk heveletl on each side atits periphery, a pair of emnpressihle parkin; rings nllll'flllltllillg said sleeve and disposed one on each side of said disk. said rings lieillg beveled outwardly at their peripheries to conform to the bev l of said disk. and a pair of emtrally hored paeking-eompressing rings eaeh telescoping with ne end of said sleeve and freely slidahle longitudinally thereon to tighten said parking rings, one of said pa kinuonuiressiug rings being-provided with means for attaching: it to a pipe, and the other being. provided with a fare exposed to ilnid presst re.

I). in eli tightening universal hall-andsoeket pipe joint. the eoinhination of a twopart socket memher having a spherieal inner face. on part of the soeket heing provided with means for attaehiin; it to a pipe; of a hall nu-mher within aid socket and eomprising a ventral cy indrical sleeve provided medially with a laterally projeiting disk extending to the inner face of, the socket niemher, the sides of said disk at tlu periplrery thereol' heing heveled toward eatother, a pair of eompressihle packing rin,'s surrounding said sleeve and dif pused one on each side of the disk, said rings being heveled outwardly at their peripheries to conform to the hevel of said disk, and a pair of centrally bored packing-compressing ringseach telescoping with the outer face.

ofejono, kid of said sleeve and freely slidable longitndiiudly thereon to tighteltsaid nickiiig rings, the outer faees of said pac 'ingcompressing rings being seetions'of sphetes, one of said rings being provided with means for attaching it to a pipe and;the other heing provided with a face expqsed to "aid pressure. T

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

THEODORE t. VAX llll'S. Witnesses: i

lAiil. ('nrreumw, Fluxris .I. 'JUSIASSUN. 

